Boat



L. GARIEPY April 2, 1940.

BOAT

Filed June so, 1938 J7Za e7 a ALL/MM Zauzo Garz Patented Ageing, 1940 f -puree STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to a boat, and particularly to a manually propelled boat simulating in appearance a water bird or other animal.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a boat which simulates a bird in general appearance and which is large enough to allow the user to sit within the boat rather than to be mounted on it. The boat is pedaled by the occupant while sitting within the hull and facing forward therein and is steered by turning the portionof the boat which represents the head of the animal.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which the single figure is a side elevation, partly in section, of a boat embodying the invention.

With reference to the drawing, the boat hull may simulate the body of any animal, but in the particular embodiment shown, represents, in general contour, a water fowl, such as a duck, swan or goose, and to this end, the hull I has substantially the shape of the body of a duck. The hull has a cover or deck 2 having an open- ,ing 3 through which the occupants head, or head and shoulders may extend, the occupant being positioned on a seat 4 mounted within the hull. Suitable means may be provided for adjustment of the position of the seat, if desired.

At the forward end of the boat is positioned a turnable member 5 which has substantially the contours of the head and neck of the animal which the boat represents, the bird, in the particular modification shown, being a duck. The member 5 has a downwardly projecting pin 6 on the lower end of which is a pulley 1 connected by suitable cables I to a similar pulley 8 mounted on the housing 9. The housing forms part of the driving mechanism for the boat, described later in detail. The pin 6 guides the member 5 for turning movement about a vertical axis, and the member has a rearwardly projecting arm it or segment of a pilot wheel to be grasped by the occupant of the boat for turning the head.

The boat is propelled by pedals ll, only one of which is shown, which are connected by links I2 to cranks 83 secured to a shaft l4. A pulley I5 on the shaft M is connected by a V-belt Hi to a pulley ll on a shaft l1 journalled in the boat hull. On the same shaft I1 is a second pulley it connected by a V-belt l9 to a pulley 20 on a shaft 2i. The latter is connected by a flexible shaft 22 to a bevel gear 23 in the housing 9 The hull of the boat has a slot 3| through 10 which the housing 9 extends, and the latter is mounted for rocking movement on projecting trunnions 32 to provide for swinging movement of the housing 21 relative to the hull in the event 15 that the housing engages weeds or rocks on the bottom of the lake or pond in which the boat is used. The trunnions are a part of a bracket 33 in which the shaft and housing are turnable about a vertical axis to provide for turning of the housing 9 and the housing 21 therewith by turning of the pulley 8. 7

As above stated, the pulley I is secured to the housing 9, and turning movement of the member 5, that is, the head of the animal, provides 2 for corresponding turning of the housing 2'! and propeller 29 so that the boat will be turned by turning the member 5. It will be understood that the cable 1' between the pulleys l and 8 is guided by auxiliary pulleys, not shown, so as 3 not to interfere with the opening 3. The cable is positioned on the pulley l in such a manner as to assure turning movement of the propeller 29 about a vertical axis in the proper direction to turn the boat in the same direction as the 3 member 5 is turned.

One feature of the invention resides in the provision of means to provide for greater stability of the boat. To this end wings 34, only one of which is shown, are pivoted at their forward ends on vertical pins 35 to swing about a substantially vertical axis. After the occupant is in seated position within the boat hull, the wings, which are buoyant, may be swung outwardly on the pins 35 in a position to form outriggers. By this arrangement greater stability for the boat, and thus greater safety, is provided. At the same time the wings are foldable, when the device is not in use, so that it will not occupy unnecessary space. If desired, the hull may be 50 1. A boat having a hull simulating the body of a bird and of a size to accommodate a person seated therein, a seat within the hull, and wing members on opposite sides of the hull, and pivoted to the hull on vertical axes adjacent their forward ends for outward swinging movement, said wing members being buoyant and corresponding approximately in shape to the wings of the bird simulated by the body.

2. A boat having a hull simulating the body of a bird and of a size to accommodate a person seated therein, a seat within the hull, a member mounted adjacent the front end of the hull and projecting upwardly therefrom, said member being turnable on a substantially vertical axis and being shaped to simulate the head of a bird, a steering means on the hull, means connecting the steering means to the member for controlling the steering means by turning movement of the member about its axis, and wing members mounted on the outside of the hull on opposite sides thereof, said wing members being pivoted adjacent their forward ends on substantially vertical axes whereby said wing members may be swung outwardly from said hull, said wing members being buoyant and shaped to simulate the wings of a bird simulated by the hull.

LOUIS GARIEPY. 

